An 11-year-old boy has been rescued after falling down a manhole.
 
Police were called to Killermont Primary School, off Boclair Road, in Bearsden at about 1pm on Wednesday.

An eyewitness said the boy was one of several who had been jumping down into the hole located on a grass verge near the school playground. But the boy hurt his leg and became stuck.

Firefighters were called to the school and had to dig round the hole to free the boy. Officers said the boy was rescued within an hour.

A spokesman from East Dunbartonshire Council said: "A Primary 7 pupil became stuck in a shallow field drain within the grounds of Killermont Primary School, Bearsden, today.

"The drain lid had been removed, possibly by vandals, from the field drain located near the boundary fence on the grassy area within the school grounds. During lunchtime today some P7 boys were playing near the drain and decided to climb into the hole.  The hole, which is only a few feet deep and has soil at the bottom of it, is not connected to the main drainage system.

"The boy became stuck in the hole but his head and shoulders were still above ground level. School staff were not able to pull him free and called rescue services. The Fire Service removed the pupil who was then checked over by paramedics.  He was found to be unhurt and his mother came to the school and took him home.

"Fire staff spoke to P7 pupils about the dangers of playing near open drains. Council Health and Safety Officers visited the school and the area has been marked off and has been made safe at present. A new drain cover will be installed as soon as possible."

The boy’s rescue is the second time in as many days that the emergency services have had to save a member of the public who had fallen down a hole. In Edinburgh, a man fell 20 feet and became trapped after falling at the site of a new building in Edinburgh’s Calton Hill.

The man is now receiving treatment in hospital for suspected spinal injuries.